Watford FC backed to sign "Championship-ready striker" | OneFootball

FLW's Watford fan pundit discussed his main transfer wish this summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Watford have been demanded to turn their attention to signing a new striker in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The Hornets are now poised to spend their fourth straight season in English football's second-tier. A top-half finish is very much on the cards for Watford, who are in 10th place with just eight games to spare, but the seven-point gap separating themselves from West Bromwich Albion in sixth means any late play-off push feels unlikely.

Nonetheless, Watford have arguably outperformed expectations on the pitch and there is a solid case to be made for Tom Cleverley impressively overachieving by having side in and around the top-six mix for much of the campaign.

However, a chronic lack of goals has caused routine frustration for supporters. Vakoun Bayo is the side's top scorer with 10 league goals, but four of those came in one match against Sheffield Wednesday back in November and he has only found the back of the net once in his last 15 appearances.

Bayo has faced next to no competition for his starting berth, though.

When you consider that, with the exception of Bayo and Edo Kayembe's eight-goal haul, no Watford player has returned more than four strikes, the shortage of dependable striking options is a major concern and many Hornets supporters would already argue the club must source an upgrade on the Ivorian.

Watford FC told to sign "Championship-ready striker"

FLW spoke to our resident Watford fan pundit, Justin Beattie, and asked for one realistic transfer wish he would like to see granted in this summer's window.

Justin has called for a "Championship-ready striker" to be recruited, with Watford evidently in dire need of a frontman with experience and a track record of finding the back of the net at this level.

"A realistic wish I would like to see granted during the summer transfer window would be to see a Championship-ready striker who can score goals come into the squad," Justin told FLW.

"This is something we haven't had for a few seasons. Maybe we should look to bringing in some of the younger, hungry players from our academy.

"But maybe we should also be looking outside of our parent club Udinese and seeing what else is about in terms of finding a striker.

"The lack of goals and excitement going forward is starting to grate a bit on the fans."

Championship-proven free agent strikers could be available for Watford FC this summer

Cleverley has had to operate on a tight budget during his time with Watford and could be forced to turn to the free agent market in a bid to bolster the squad this summer.

If that's the direction Watford head in, there may just be a number of potential, seasoned second-tier striking options available on the market. The standout name is Emil Riis, who has scored 10 times for Championship rivals Preston North End this season but has been tipped to leave on a free transfer by boss Paul Heckingbottom as his contract nears its conclusion.

Rhian Brewster, meanwhile, could be a gamble worth taking; the former England youth star has endured a tough time of it both on and off the pitch at Sheffield United amid a string of injury setbacks but clearly has talent and may leave at the end of his deal if the Blades achieve promotion to the Premier League.

Very few strikers who are still playing know the Championship better than Bristol City's Nahki Wells, who has scored eight times this season, but at 34, Watford may fancy a younger profile.

They are, however, three potential options who could each offer an upgrade on what's currently at Cleverley's disposal and would fit the criteria of what Justin and the vast majority of the Vicarage Road faithful are crying out for.